Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2001 Dodge Ram Dashboard is an extreme safety hazard due to the cracking. I have owned this vehicle for 12 years and it's been garaged kept for 8 years. The dash started with a crack and then a hole was created when hitting a bump. Then I had a mechanic work on the heater, and the dash basically disintegrated when moving it. The holes on this dashboard are absurd. A review of safety information identified others who reported this problem to NHTSA and many more complaints on online message boards. This dashboard creates a safety issue for all personnel in the vehicle in case of an accident since projectiles (pieces of the dash that crumble) will fly. Also, there are other components under the dash that could create additional problems (ie-heater core spraying hot antifreeze after an accident). This is completely absurd. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact crashed into a tree trunk to avoid striking a deer. Both frontal air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries reported and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent repair shop. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
While my daughter was driving home late one night, she fell asleep and hit a large tree. She lives in ca. While I am in co. The truck she was in, a Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 extended cab, was a total loss. She was flown into a hospital 90 or so miles away. She was wearing her seat belt, as was her passenger. My daughter broke some ribs, her arm, and her pelvis in 8 places. Her left leg was attached by skin and muscle only. The passenger side airbag fully deployed, whereas the drivers side did not fully deploy. By what I have seen during my research of this incident, and seeing the truck, her airbag should have deployed. As a matter of fact, it tried. According to the carfax I pulled, it has never been in an accident, and was purchased from the federal government, who would,I assume, have a vehicle repaired properly if it had been involved in an accident.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 55 MPH in dry conditions the vehicle ahead suddenly came to a stop, and with no brake lights illuminating, the contact's vehicle struck the other vehicle from the rear and the air bags did not deploy. A police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to a garage , then towed to the insurance company inspection station. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer also inspected the vehicle and determined that the rate of deceleration required to activate the air bags was not present. The current and failure mileage were 75,000.
Tl- the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. While driving 25 MPH in rainy weather, the vehicle began to slide abnormally, causing the contact to crash into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained lacerations to the bottom of the chin and mouth, requiring 24 stitches. The contact was immediatley taken for medical attention. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 171,000. Kmj updated 02/01/12 the consumer also stated the seat belts didi not perform as designed. Updated 02/10/12
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 55mph in normal driving conditions, the contact lost control of the vehicle which left the roadway and struck a large tree without warning and the airbags did not deploy. The contact was not wearing a seat belt, and minor injuries were sustained. There was extensive damage to the front of the vehicle; the vehicle was totaled by the insurance agency as a result. The police were on the scene and a report was taken. The dealer and manufacturer were not alerted.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact was in an accident and the air bags did not deploy. The contact was traveling 40 MPH when they were cut off and crashed into the side of an on-coming vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contacts insurance companies storage facility. The contact stated that there were no problems with the air bags prior to the crash. The failure and current mileages were 60000. Updated 12/15/10. The consumer stated the vehicle was totaled. Updated 12/27/10
I'm worried that the air bag on passenger side is defective as the strangest noise is coming from behind the dash like a rubber band is tightening and then clicking on and off. Doesn't happen all the time. I've also had my truck in for the steering before and it has never been right. Now the hood will not shut right. It's always been a lemon. I fight to keep it on the road. It doesn't even have 36,000 miles on it. I'm wondering what recalls I've missed so I'm checking. Thank you.
I, like many others are experiencing cracked dash problems. I have had my 2000 Ram 1500 and now my 2001 Ram 1500 dashes crack and fall apart. The dealerships tell me that Dodge does not support repair or replacement of the dash. They no longer stock and back orders are ignored the dash and the instrument bezel that cracks over a short period of time. This is a safety issue as the 2000 truck was totaled in a wreck and I was injured by the dash debris and not the accident.
While driving at 50 MPH on a commercial street another vehicle turned directly in front of consumer's vehicle and the consumer's vehicle collided with the right front of the other vehicle that was making the turn. The consumer was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, but the air bags did not deploy. Vehicle was totaled. Consumer did suffer some lower back pain the next day, but did not have to be hospitalized.
Related recalls
Air bags
Vehicle description: pickup trucks. Sound deadener material inside the steering wheel could become detached from the cover and housing. Note: the Ram pickup trucks were built at the warren assembly plant ("s" in the 11th VIN position) from May 16, 2000 through October 23, 2000; st.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly. Owner notification began June 18, 2001. Also some 1997-200 model year vehicles that, according to warranty records, have had a suspect replacement clockspring installed,…
Airbag complaints in other Ram 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 84 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, 8% of the model year's 1,112 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (38 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-153 (air bags, May 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 42 crashes, 1 fire and 36 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.